Tell us a little about yourself and your site, Mothering with Mindfulness.
I am a mom to one awesome little man. I have been married to my best friend for almost 18 years. The three of us live in a little one room schoolhouse that was built in 1878. We strive to live simply, close to the earth and in tune with the seasons. Our little homestead is a work in progress, each year it changes and grows along with us. We have chickens, who graciously give us fresh eggs every day, we grow a lot of our own food during the summer and perserve for the winter season, and we try to reuse, recycle or make it ourselves as much as we can. We have dreams of bees (arriving this spring) and maybe a some sheep in a few years.
My site, Mothering with Mindfulness, shares the journey I am on with my little man. It is a little glimpse into our days and our lives as mother and son and the adventures we get into. You will also find some crafting, recipes, poetry and other things sprinkled in.
Your daily Nature Time is something quite important to you that you share with your son. What tips do you have for other busy Moms who want to get their children out in the natural world, but may not have the same access to it right outside their door?
I am not sure what we would do without our daily nature connection. It is something that grounds us both and brings a much stronger connection to the earth and to each other.I am very passionate about nature connection and children, and my hope for every child is that they able to connect and experience Mother Nature. I will admit we are very lucky to have access right outside our front door, but if you don't I suggest taking some time to look up conservations areas in your area. They are everywhere and can provide a starting point for many wonderful adventures. Find a creek, or pond, put those rubber boots on and have some fun splashing, throwing rocks or sailing handmade boats. Get some friends together and make an afternoon of it.
Many of our adventures start out with a back pack filled with snacks, a tracking guide and plans to just walk. We let nature guide us on the adventure and we have never been disappointed. Just get out there with your kids, forget the time, just go, and follow Mother Nature, I guarantee you a wonderful time.
What are some ways that you recharge yourself during the day?
I have a few ways to recharge. I think the most important one right now is my Sit Spot. This is a core routine of the Coyote's Guide to Nature Connection and requires that you spend 20 minutes every day sitting still in the same spot outside. There is no thinking, no forced meditation. It is just me and nature alone for 20 minutes. When I first started this I was amazed at the effect and I miss it on the days when I haven't found the time to make it happen.
You can also find me hitting the trails for a solo hike or a trail run to recharge, but those don't happen on a daily basis.
And some days when life gets crazy my little recharge might be an afternoon cup of tea and a few rows of knitting.
You are a work at home Mama. Tell us how having a home-based business benefits your family bond.
Being a mom is by far the most important thing to me. My work is scheduled around being a mom, which I feel very fortunate to be able to do. I work as a holistic nutritionist with a specialty in pre conception, pregnancy, post natal and early childhood nutrition and as a birth doula. Both are areas I am very passionate about. Being able to work in these fields and share my passions fulfills that pull I have to offer moms advice and help on their own journeys. It feels right and it feels good.
Our family benefits in so many ways. First and foremost I get to be the mom I want to be and have always dreamed of being...at home with my little man, sharing his journey, watching him learn and grow and learning, growing and changing myself. The little bit of work I do allows me to bring in a little income for our little family, which is always helpful. And sharing my passions makes me so very happy, and we all know what that means at home...a much happier mom.
It works well for our family and I feel like we have found a balance that works for us.
What are your top five tips for mothering in a mindful way?
Five tips...Trust...in yourself, in your child and in the journey you are on together.
Be aware...in each moment. So many times we are not fully present with our children. Put the phone down, turn off the computer, TV, radio and video games, tune out everything else and just be with your child, in the moment. No thoughts about the past or the future.
Let go of judgement...try not to judge whether the moment you are in is good or bad, just be in it. This is usually much easier to do in moments of good times.
Forgive...yourself. Mothering is not about perfection. We are human. We will make mistakes. Mothering is about the journey, a journey of continual discovery about who you are and the mother you want to be. Learn from your mistakes and then let them go.
Take time for you...mothering is not always easy. There are days when you might just want to curl up under the covers and cry. We need to make time for ourselves. Find the things that make your heart and soul sing and then do them...every. single. day. You might not have a lot of time, but even a few minutes can give you some much needed room to breath and a moment or two to connect to your inner being. This is being mindful about what you need and is so important if you are going to be mindful in the relationship with your children.
You can connect with Kim following the links below!
Blog - http://www.
Your Green Baby - http://www.yourgreenbaby.ca/
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/
Today, Kim is giving away her book "Raising Happy, Healthy Babies" to one lucky reader from the US or Canada. Here's a bit about her book:
Raising Happy Healthy Babies is packed with easy to understand nutritional information for mom, baby and toddler. The foundation for your child’s long term health and wellness starts before you are even pregnant – learn how to nourish your body preconception, during pregnancy and as a new mom for optimum health and well being for both you and your baby. And once you are holding your little one in your arms let Raising Happy Healthy Babieshelp guide you as you breast or formula feed, start solids, tickle tiny taste buds, and raise a happy healthy baby.The book includes detailed information for each stage of development as well as 95 recipes for mom, baby and toddler.
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